Brush-holder.



UNITED STATES Patented May 19, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY GEISENHONER, OF SOHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NET/V YORK.

BRUSH-HOLDER.

SPECIFTLCATIQN forming part of Letters Eatent No. 728,222, dated May 19, 1903.

Application filed December 19, 1900. Serial No. 40,377. (No model.)

The invention consists in the novel structure of a brush-holderwhereby current is prevented from injuring the adjusting-spring and the brush can be easily moved without disturbing the adjustment of such spring and,in general, whereby the holder can be simply and cheaply constructed.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a brush-holder embodying the invention, showing the working parts in their operative and inoperative positions. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a development of the brush-box or a plan of the punched sheet-metal strip from which the box is made. Fig. 4 is a perspective of a completed box. adjusting-screw. Fig. 6 is a plan of a part on which the adjusting-springs are mounted; and Figs. 7 and 8 are an elevation and bottom view, respectively, of the device which engages with the top of the brush and retains the lower ends of the adjusting-springs.

One feature of the invention is the structure by which the brush can be removed from the holder without disturbing the tension of the spring and whereby the holder can be made economically of a small number of parts, which are constructed and arranged to produce a durable brush-holder and one that is not injured by the vibration of the machine to which it is attached. WVhen the manufacture of an electric machine is completed, the brushes are inserted in the holders and the adjusting-springs are permanently set, it being expected that the pressure of the springs on the brush will not vary more than ten per cent. during the life of the brush. It is not, therefore, necessary or desirable to change the adjustment of the springs, and as the brushes must frequently be removed to be replaced I provide means whereby this operation may be accomplished Fig. 5 is an elevation of the by unskilled attendants without changing .the adjustment of the springs.

' The springs S are carried by a device D, which is hinged or pivoted at Pto the brushbox B and is movably attached at its other end to a portion of the holder, so that when it is desired to remove a brush the latter end is detached and the entire device, with the springs, is turned from off the top of the box 13, 'so that the brush can be removed. This latter position of the device is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. A metallic member 0 is socured to the lower side of the device D to lend rigidity to the structure, and extending loosely and entirely through the member O are two rods E, depending from the member G, which is loosely mounted on the screw W. The screw W engages in a screwthreaded hole extending through the device D and the member 0. A helical spring is mounted on the upper portion of-each of the rods E and bears with its lower end upon the top of the brush. The rods E extend some distance down into the interior of the coils and serve to render the spring more rigid and to prevent its buckling. When the screw NY is turned, it depresses or raises the member G, thereby extending or compressing the spring S. The device D is provided with an extension A, inwhich is formed a perforation 0, through which perforation a hook or projection G from the holder I-I extends to retain the device D in its operative position. When it is desired to remove the brush, the portion A of the resilient device is raised from the hook O and the entire device is swung on the pivot P to permit the removal of the brush. The entire device D, with the exception of the independent operating parts, is composed of sheet metal, and. hence is resilient, so that it is readily unlatched from the hook O. The two upper legs of the device D are bent, as shown at N, in order to increase its resiliency. A portion L is bent up from the side of the device D to act as a guide for and the brush in contact with each other.

This is an improvement on the method of prewenting the impairment of the resiliency of the spring by current flowing through it which consisted in inserting insulating fiber between the spring and the brush; I have found that the brushes become so hot that this insulation will be burned away, whereas with the construction described so small a current flows through the spring thatit is not materially heated.

The structure of the box and the means for attaching it to the holder are also important features of this brush-holder.

The box B is formed entirely from the integral sheet-metal punching. (Shown in planin Fig. 3-.) This is punched from a sheet of metal and is atterward bent into the required shape and secured to the holder H. The box is bent to form a complete rectangular structure for the brush, the ends Z abutting, as shown in Fig. 4, to surround the brush. The holder H is provided with a projection 11*, which extends the width of the box, and a narrower projection H. Portions U of the box are bent about the projection H, and the portions U rest upon the top of the projection H and hence prevent the box from moving sidewise or downwardly with respect to the holder H. The projection V, extending upward from the lower portion of the box B, is bent up around the lower part of the projection H of the holder H, and hence prevents the box 13 from moving upwardly with respect to the holder. From the front of the box extend two lugs T, Fig. 4, and these lugs, as shown in Fig. 2, lie adjacent to the lugs R, which extend from the front of the device I). All four lugs are perforated for the reception of the pin P to form the hinge-joint.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination with a holder, ofan independently-constructed guide-box provided with projections which have been bent about the holder to prevent transverse movement of the box, and a projection which has been bent about the holder to prevent vertical movement of the box.

2. The combination with a holder, of an independently-constructed guide-box secured to the holder and provided with projections which abut each other at their ends to form an inclosure for the brush. 7

3. The combination with a holder provided with a projection, of an independently-constructed guide-box provided with projections which have been bent about the projection of the holder.

4.: The combination with a holder provided with a projection, of an independently-constructed guide-box provided with projections which have been bent about the holder, to prevent both transverse'and downward movement of the box, and a projection from the box which has been bent about the projection on the holder to prevent upward vertical movement of the box. r

5. The combination with a holder, of a guide-box provided with outwardly-extending lugs, a spring, and a device for carrying the spring which is hinged to said lugs.

6. The combination with a holder adapted to be secured to a suitable support and provided with a hook; 'a guide-box,a spring, and a device for carrying a spring which is provided with a resilient portion Which is perforated for the reception of the hook on the holder.

7. The combination with a holder, of acarrying device for the brush-spring which is perforated for the reception of the brushspring,a su pport provided with a downwardlyextending guide which projects through the perforation in the said carrying device; the brush-spring mounted on said guide, and upward projections from said brush-carrying device, which extend adjacent to said support to guide the latter.

8. The combination with a holder adapted to bemounted onasuitablesupport,ofaspring carrying device, a spring, and a member to :00

which the end of the spring is secured and which has only a small portion of its lower surface in engagement with the brush.

9. The combination with a holder adapted to be mounted on a suitable support, of a x05 spring-carrying device, a helical spring, and a screw which engages the turns of the spring, and is provided with a round head which engages with the brush.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my I 10 hand this 15th day of December, 1900.

HENRY eEIsENHoNER.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, MARGARET E. WocLLEY. 

